Hoist attachment



Sept; 7, 1943. A SMITH 2,329,008

HOIST ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 16, 1943 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 riors'r ATTACHMENT Alexander Smith, Macon, Ga. Application February 16, 1943, Serial No.476,104

1 7 Claims. (01. 294-78) This invention relates to hoist attachments, and an object of the same is to provide means for facilitating the lifting of heavy and cumbersome objects. a

An example of one of the many uses to which the present improved hoist or lifting device may be applied, is the removal of an airplane motor, such as a radial engine, from its crate and in-' stallation thereof in the nacelle of a plane, or the crating and uncrating of a motor irrespective of its particular installation. Ordinarily, the practice when installing motors of this type is to connect a hoist fitting to the end of the V propeller shaft, then operate the hoist or'crane to raise the motor from its crate, then make another connection to the rear gear section and swingthe motor to a horizontal position, and finally make a third connection to the blower section to facilitate handling during installation. With the present improved hoist attachment,the connections may be made before the motor is lifted from its crate or from a prone position, means being provided wherebythe motor may be easily maneuvered to any desired angle of installation while itis suspended from its moorings.

Another and more specific object of the invention, therefore is to provide a hoist attachment whereby devices such as radial airplane engines and the like may be raised from a given position and then maneuvered into the desired position of installation with aminimum of time and labor. A further object is to improve hoistattacha ments of that type permitting shifting of the device being lifted to different positions while suspended from its moorings by rendering such attachments more flexible or adaptable forconnection to different points on the device.

A still further object is to" generally improve and simplify lifting and carrying mechanism.

The foregoing and other: objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a hoist attachment in accordance with the invention shown in the act of transferring a radial engine from its crate to its point of installation in an airplane;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 2--2 Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, a top plan view of the attachment.

Referring to the drawing in detail, In designates a supporting and carrying bar which it will be noted is channel-shaped for strength and of curved or arcuate configuration starting from a 55 point inwardly from the outer or suspension'end thereof and terminating at the inner or. connecting end of the bar. At its inner end, the bar is formed with a hole l| adapted to receive a screw or stud bolt 2, by means of which a hangar bracket l3 may be pivotally connected to the bar, said bracket carrying a fitting |3' adapted to be threaded on the end of propeller shaft M forming a part of the object to be lifted, and which in the present instance is a radial airplane engine generally indicated at E.

The opposite extremity of the bar I!) has slidingly mounted thereon a hanger .orsuspension assembly comprising a bearing yoke or bracket |5 provided with a bearing roller I6 and a latch bolt I, the latter being adapted to engage in any one of a plurality of holes formed in thebar l0 and lock the bearing bracket against shifting movement along the bar. A suspension yoke I8 is connected to bracket l5 for attachment to a hoist or crane cable, not shown. 1.

A pair of swinging or hinged suspension arms l9, 9 aremounted on the outer extremity of the bar Ill, said arms being connected above .and below the bar by clamp brackets '20 and hinge pins or bolts 20a.

. An adjustable suspension eye 2| is threaded through a yoke-shaped bracket or clevis 22 inserted over the outer free end of the bar ID, the legs of the yoke straddling the bar and being suitably secured thereto, as by welding. The eye 2| carries a clevis 23 from which a flexible cable 24 is suspended.

Additional flexible cables,25 and 26 are connected to the outer ends of the arms l9, l9 by means of clevices 21 and 21";

It will be noted thatthe cables 24, 25 and 25 are arranged to provide a three-point smpensign, the lower end of each cable being connected to the engine E in any suitable manner, as for example, by means of clevice's 29,30 and 3|, which engage eyes 32 normally applied to engines of this type to facilitate handling.

In operation, assuming it is desired to lift a radial engine as illustrated in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to connect the fitting |3 to the end of the propeller shaft l4 and the cables 24, 25 and 26 to the eyes 32 and raise the engine from its crate, whereupon the engine may be maneuvered into any angle desired by sliding the bar carrying the engine along the slide bearings or rollers l6. One man can handle a large engine and can center or position the latter accurately without requiring constant shifting by the crane or hoist. In actual use, the improved 1. A hoist attachment for use in lifting heavyobjects comprising an arcuate shaped lifting and carrying bar, a suspension and bearing-member mounted on said bar and adapted to be 0on nected to a hoist, crane or the like, a fitting pivotally connected to one end of saidbar tube.

airplane engines, comprising a suspension memher having bearing rollers in the lower extremity thereof and a yoke connected to the upper end thereof for attachment to a crane or hoist cable, a lifting and carrying bar of channel shape in cross section and of generally over-all arcuate shape slidingly mounted in said suspension member, a bracket pivotally connected adjacent one end to said bar and carrying a fitting adapted-to, be connected to the end. of the propeller shaft of the engine, a suspension cable adjustably connected to the opposite end of said bar, a pair of swinging arms secured to the bar inwardly of said cable, additional suspension cable's connected to the outer ends of said arms,

said latter cables together with said end cable forming a three-point suspension for connection connected to a part of the object to be. lifted, a.

flexible cable adjustably connected to'the op- 'posite end of said bar, a pair: of. lateral-iy1swing:-

ing arms: mso connected; to the bar inwardly from said-latter suspension cable, and, additional: cables connected to the outer ends of said arms. and enacting with said end cable to i provide a threeepoint suspension for connection to the. object, and. whereby when object. is

lifted by means of the suspensionbar, the latter .may be shifted along said bar to maneuver the objectto any desired positiom 2. A hoist attachment. for use. in lifting heavy objects such, for example, as airplane engines a propeller shaft, comprising. an. arcuate shaped lifting and carrying; bar having a fitting pivotally' connected to one end and adapted to r be connected to one. end: of the propeller shaft,

a pair of swinging arms. connected to. the bar inwardlyof its. opposite end, flexible. cables. connected to the outer end of said bar, and means for. connecting the bar to ahoist, cable. or the 4- like comprising a. suspension member having a bearing in the lower extremity thereof over which said bar is adapted to have. movement,

and alyoke adapted; to be. connected to said hoist cable, and whereby when-the hoist cable is operated to lift the engine, the latter may be maneuvered into any desired position by sliding the bar along its bearing.

3. A hoist attachment for use inli'fti-ng heavy objects, comprising a.lifting and carrying bar having the major portion thereof of arcuate shaped contour, a fitting connected to one end of said bar and a flexible cable connected: to the opposite end of the bar, a pair of arms connected to said bar inwardly of said cable, additional cables connected to the outer ends of said arms, and means for suspending the bar from a hoist cable including a member having bearings, in the lower extremity thereof over which, saidbar has movement. I I

4;. A hoist attachment for usefin installing t theengine.

, 5. Ahoist attachment for use in lifting heavy objects, comprising a lifting and carrying bar having the, major portion thereof, of arcuate shaped: eontq t, suspension members connected to the opposite ends of said bar, a bearing member slidably mounted on said bar and adapted to connected to,- a crane; or hoist cable, the bar being slidable in saidbearing member when the object being lifted is in suspended position, and additional suspension members carried by said adjustably mounted on the opposite extremity of said bar, a suspension and bearing member also mounted on the barand adapted to be connected to a hoist cable or the like, and additional suspension cables carried by said bar and providing with said first-named suspension cablea three-point suspension means for con.-

nection to the object to be lifted, said bar being shiftable in said suspension and bearing memb813,

1 A hoist attachment for use in lifting heavy objects, comprising an arcuate shaped lifting andcarrying bar, a, fitting pivotally connected to one. end of; saidbar, cable supporting means .mounted on the baradjacent its opposite extremity, cables suspended from said supporting means, said supporting means being movable to in turn move said cables to a plurality of different positionslaterally of the'bar, and means including a bearing member for suspending the ,bar from a hoist cable, the bar being movable on the. object being lifted.

said bearingmember to facilitate placement of ALEXANDER SMITH, 

